The European Union and the U.S. have not formally begun the trade talks first agreed to last July, as the 28-member bloc still does not have a mandate to negotiate. Given that, many observers are doubtful negotiations could make substantial progress this year.
The U.S. trade representative complained about the European Union's intention to bring a case at the World Trade Organization challenging antidumping and countervailing duties on Spanish olives. Antidumping duties are between 16.88 percent and 25.5 percent, and countervailing duties are between 7.52 percent and 27.02 percent (see 1807310076). The USTR said the U.S. International Trade Commission said the actions of Spanish producers resulted in significant job losses and declines in profitability for the U.S. industry. "We believe that the EU’s case is without merit, and we intend to fight it very aggressively,” USTR Robert Lighthizer said Jan. 29, after the EU asked for consultations in Geneva.
The Commerce Department issued its final determination in its countervailing duty investigation on ripe olives from Spain (C-469-818). Suspension of liquidation is currently not in effect for entries on or after March 28, and Commerce will only require cash deposits of estimated CV duties on future entries if it issues a CV duty order.
The Commerce Department issued its final determination in the antidumping duty investigation on ripe olives from Spain (A-469-817). Cash deposit rates set in this final determination take effect June 18.
The Commerce Department will soon begin requiring countervailing duty cash deposits on imports of ripe olives from Spain, it said in a fact sheet issued Nov. 21. Cash deposit requirements will begin on the date Commerce publishes its preliminary determination in the Federal Register, with rates ranging from 2.31% to 7.24% for Spanish exporters. The final determination in this investigation is currently due in April. International Trade Today will have more details when Commerce publishes its preliminary determination.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on ripe olives from Spain (A-469-817, C-469-818).
The Coalition for Fair Trade in Ripe Olives filed a petition on June 21 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on ripe olives from Spain. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on ripe olives, which are a processed product, typically black in color, used on pizzas, sandwiches and salads.
The Agricultural Marketing Service seeks comments on an information collection related to imports of fruits, vegetables and nuts that would be subject to federal grade standards but are imported for an exempt purpose, it said (here). For imports of avocados, grapefruit, kiwifruit, non-Spanish olives, oranges, table grapes, Irish potatoes, onions, tomatoes, dates not for processing, walnuts, raisins, pistachios and hazelnuts, which are subject to grade standards, importers may submit a form declaring they are exempt if the imports are for processing, charity, animal feed, seed and distribution to relief agencies. AMS is changing the name of the form from FV-6 to SC-6, it said. Comments are due May 30.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that it has updated the HTS on the ACE "References" tab to direct the user to the U.S. International Trade Commission website. Users can simply select the "Launch USITC Site" to navigate directly to the HTS. CBP notes that the "Tariff History" hyperlink is no longer operational in the ACE Portal; users should use the "HTS Archive" on the ITC website. (CSMS 09-000374, dated 12/22/09, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17770&page=&srch_argv=09-000374&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule that would revise 7 CFR 51.38 governing the inspection and certification for fresh fruits, vegetables and other products by increasing certain fees charged for the inspection of these products at destination markets for the next two fiscal years (FYs) (FY 2007 and FY 2008) by approximately 15%.